Work-life balance

Why Work-Life Balance is Important

At YourEVA we are firm believers in WORK, REST and PLAY

Lifestyle is a choice

The meaning of work-life balance is the prioritisation between “work” and “lifestyle”. Balancing our work and lifestyle can be challenging in today’s society as everyone has busy work and lifestyle commitments to attend to. However, it is our lifestyle which is usually put on hold for us to be able to focus on getting our workload completed, whether you own your own business, a CEO or an employee we all have responsibilities to fulfil. We spend the majority of our waking life at work and less time at home. This type of work-life is the main cause of stress, less time with our families, relationship and health problems.

In my studies of Health, Social Care and Administration one of my assignments; Applying Sociology and Psychology in the Work Place. Sociology and Psychology studies look at physical and mental health as well as social wellbeing rather than just the absence of disease or ill health.

Psychology and sociology are important factors to understand in health and social care for us to consider holistically someone’s physical and mental wellbeing. It is important that equality and diversity are applied to ensure everyone has equal rights and opportunities. It is also important to recognise we are all different, have individual needs and should be treated in accordance with our needs to eliminate discrimination and make the best use of people’s abilities and skills.

Sociology explores and makes sense of our behaviour and our society; functioning of human society and social problems. Sociology looks at social health, lifestyles, class, and our status within class, friendships and networks. Some Sociological theories include Marxism, Feminism, Globalisation, Health and Inequality.

Psychology studies the mind and its functions, a Science of the mind, our thoughts and behaviour, understanding people, how they think and what they say. Psychological theories include behaviourism, humanism, functionalism, psychoanalysis and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs model. Psychological processes are our beliefs, behaviour, feelings, social and cultural backgrounds, our environment, economics and housing.

Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs Model (1943, 1954)

A Motivational Theory in Psychology

Abraham Maslow theory of his hierarchy of needs are a series of physiological and emotional requirements for human contentment and are arranged in order of necessity. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs originally had five levels, four lower levels known as the deficiency needs and a top level known as the growth needs.

Level 1 – Physiological

Physiological needs are to maintain the human body functions which are vital to survival, these include food, water, air and sleep.

Level 2 – Safety and Security

Safety and security needs are in keeping us safe from harm, these include shelter, job security, health and safe environments.

Level 3 – Belongingness and Love (Social)

Belonging and love, social needs, we have a need for belonging, love, affection, relationships (family and friends). This need is met through pleasing and fulfilling relationships with others and acceptance from others.

Level 4 – Esteem

When the (basic) lower three levels have been met esteem needs then become important. When an individual has satisfactorily met their need for love and belonging, they can start to develop positive feelings, self-worth and self-esteem.

Level 5 (Level 7 new model) – Self-actualization

Self-actualization is the highest level, this relates to a person’s full potential and is the basis of the perceived need for self-actualization: capabilities, realisation of personal potential, self-fulfilment and personal growth.

Abraham Maslow Hierarchy of Needs Model (1970)

In 1970 Maslow’s model was adapted following further research and increased to eight levels; which now include; cognitive needs, aesthetic needs and transcendence needs. Maslow stated people were motivated to fulfil their basic needs before moving on to meet higher level growth needs.

Level 5 – Cognitive

Represents that a person needs to know and understand, motivation to educate and learn, according to Maslow this level can not occur until the lower deficiency needs have been met.

Level 6 – Aesthetic

Aesthetic represents the quality of being creative and expressing oneself. The creativity of decorating our homes, wrapping presents, keeping up with the latest styles and trends are ways of expressing our aesthetic need.

Level 7 – Self-actualization

Self-actualization is the highest level, this relates to a person’s full potential and is the basis of the perceived need for self-actualization: capabilities, the realisation of personal potential, self-fulfilment and personal growth.

Level 8 – Transcendence

Transcendence needs are helping others to achieve self-actualisation.

Taking Maslow’s hierarchy of needs into account if a person does not meet the basic deficiency needs then a breakdown in a person’s physiological or emotional state could occur causing emotional, physical or mental health problems.

For our health and well-being, we need to focus on our work-life balance to remain healthy

It is essential that we look after our own emotional, health and wellbeing, we need to focus on our work-life balance to remain healthy. By making time for work, rest and play (activities) can be the kick-start you require to improving your work-life balance. You could try delegating some of your business and administration tasks, so that you can concentrate on things that matter most, perhaps spending time with your clients, your family or leisure activities, do you fancy a round of golf?

A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE NOT ONLY CHANGES YOUR BODY,

IT CHANGES YOUR MIND,

YOUR ATTITUDE AND YOUR MOOD

quote by unknown

Looking at the Welllness Improvement System Model above and the Self-Care Wheel below weigh up how you can help improve your work-life balance to maintain a healthy lifestyle

If you need to make any changes to your work-life balance, contact YourEVAto discuss how we can help you with your business and administration needs.

We can help you gain back valuable time to concentrate on the things that matter most in helping you find your own work-life balance.

Remember to WORK, REST AND PLAY to maintain a healthy work-life balance

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Ethos

YourEVA is a small business located on the South Coast of the UK.

YourEVA provides remote business and administration services to independent Health Care Professionals, Health Practitioners, and Coaches. We are here to help you with all of your business and administration needs.

YourEVA allows you to gain back valuable time so that you can concentrate on your patient caseload, business’ growth or the things that matter most.

Our aim is to provide a friendly, reliable and professional service with 100% Customer Satisfaction.

About YourEVA

YourEVA (Your Executive Virtual Assistant) was founded by Julie Blackman in 2015.

Julie brings over 30 years of experience in business and administration, having worked in both Public and Private sectors as an administrator and as a Personal Assistant at Director level with corporate experience. She is a conscientious, hardworking and reliable person who excels in a varied role.

Julie is passionate in continuing her professional development, in 2015 achieved a Foundation Degree in Science, Health, Social Care and Administration, and graduated in 2016 with The VA Mastery Course which is CPD Standards accredited and an in-depth training programme.